Tech & Biz

100 Leaked Body-Scan Images

by Jordan Yerman | November 16, 2010 at 11:06 am

9104 views | 5 Recommendations | 2 comments

Leaked Body-Scans Prove Images Are Stored

Gizmodo has leaked 100 body-scan images taken with the Gen 2 millimeter-wave scanner. Supposedly these images are not saved, but obviously they were saved, because we're looking at them right now. Also, this is not the first time that federal body-scanner operators have been caught with images that they should not have.

Gizmodo filed an FOIA request to force US marshalls to give up the images they had improperly stored. If you think that leaking 100 body-scan images is irresposible, consider that the Orlando courthouse saved more than 35,000 of these images.

So, when the TSA says something like:

Advanced imaging technology cannot store, print, transmit or save the image, and the image is automatically deleted from the system after it is cleared by the remotely located security officer. Officers evaluating images are not permitted to take cameras, cell phones or photo-enabled devices into the resolution room.

... we can reply, without hyperbole, that the TSA is not being honest with us. Whether the scanner in question is backscatter or millimeter-wave, the output of those scans are put into the hands of who are basically mall cops, and the proof is all too clear: stated policy and actual behavior are two very different things.

Are you supposed to feel better that the person saving a x-ray photo of you is not in the same room? How is that supposed to make a difference when the action is the same?

According to the TSA—and of course other agencies—images from the scanners are "automatically deleted from the system after it is cleared by the remotely located security officer." Whatever the stated policy, it's clear that it is trivial for operators to save images and remove them for distribution if they choose not to follow guidelines or that other employees could remove images that are inappropriately if accidentally stored.

We also have to call BS on "accidentally stored" if the ostensible default is non-storage.

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Karen Hatter

at 11:41 on November 16th, 2010

Seems to be a sort of high tech version of a peep hole in the wall!

YankeeJim

at 17:24 on November 16th, 2010

It is really easy to get to the heart of who did the saving and who did the leaking. The mystery is why Janet Napalitano is not called on the carpet to account for this.

1. Location

2. Time

3. Shift

4. Individuals

5. You are fired and prosecuted